Sheet feeding device



Jan..2, 1945. 'A W, METZNER- 52,366,206

SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 18, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nwwwww EQ N W, V SQ s /A/VENTOR ALBERT w M5 T2A/5R A Tom/EY Jan. 2, 1945'. A. w`. METZNER SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 18, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2- Jan. 2,1945. A. wME'rzNE-R SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 18,v 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTO AlmI Jan. 2, 1945.

A. W. METZNER SHEET EEEDING DEVICE ,Filed Ag. 1E,r 1941 4 sheets-sheet 4 //VVEN7'0R ALBERT WMEZ/VER BY I &2

ATTO N57 Patented Jan. 2, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlCE SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Albert W. Metzner, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 18, 1941, Serial N'o. 407,317 1s claims. (ci. 19t- 130) This invention pertains to writing and imprinting machines and more particularly to rec' ord material feeding and aligning means therefor.

Modern commercial practice has necessitated rapid production of typewritten and imprinted records. Power operated automatic. recording machines, wherein the writing operation is'controlled by punched cards,` tapes or by remote control from a distant master apparatus, have become quite common. Such machines usually employ continuous series connected detachable form stationery. However, there are certain elds and conditions of use wherein use of cut sheets or independent sets of forms having-interleaved transfer sheets are preferable. For such use, it is desirable that the sheets be automatically advanced into writing position and properly aligned in timed sequence with the operation of the machine.

The present sheet feeding apparatus embodies means for automatically delivering separate record sheets or units comprising sets of plural sheets fromv a supply magazine in. continuous success and momentarily arresting the released sheets or sets thereof in properly aligned rela- .tion in an advanced position preparatory to theirl admission to the writing or imprinting machine in synchronism with successive impressionazimparting operations thereof.

'I'he object of the present invention is to improve theconstruction, as well as the means and 'mode of operation of sheet feeding and aligning mechanism for writing and imprinting machines, whereby such devices may not only be veconomically manufacturedand installed, but will be eiliimpression receiving position is in synchronism with the operation of the imprinting means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an intermittently operated sheet'feeding mecha-v 5 nism and actuating means for driving the sheet thereof, vand the mode of operation, or their 20 equivalents, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a writing or imprinting machine and a sheet feeding and aligning mechanism embodying the pres- A ent invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the sheet feeding 30 apparatus, including the platen roll of a writing machine.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of ,the assembled mechanism showing a record sheet in process of being inscribed and the sheet ejector about to discharge a succeeding sheet from the magazine.

cientin use; automatic in operation, uniform in action, having relatively few operating parts, and e be unlikely to get out ofrepair.

' A further object of the invention is to enable record sheets or sets of sheets to be fed seriatim from a source of supply and presented in aligned and registering relation with the imprinting devices in continuous timed sequence synchronizedl 'with the operation of the writing or imprinting 45 apparatus. 4 i A further object of the invention isto provide automatically operated sheetejector means by which sheets or sets thereof are discharged one at a timefrom a supply magazine thereof and presented l in predetermined relation with the writing or imprinting apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide sheet timing means and atrip means therefor Fig. 4 is a similar side elevation of the apparatus in a succeeding stage of operation, wherein the succeeding record ysheet has been released from the magazine and arrested in timing posi- "10 tion as the trailing edge ofthe preceding sheet is being advanced into impressionreceiving position. f

' Fig. 5 illustrates a further stage of the sheet advancing operation, wherein the momentarily arrested sheet is being released for advancement in immediately following relation ywith the pre ceding sheet.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on une s-s 50 of Fig. 2, illustrating the tandem frictional drive devices.

Fig. 7 -is a detail View of the gear drive mechanism for feeding sheets of greater length.

Fig. 8 is a detail view ofthe sheet arresting and by which presentation ofrthe record sheet in 55 timing device.

` ejector containus are of sumcient length that upon rotation of the shaft i1 the heads or terminals 23 will frictionally engage the foremost record sheet in the magazine and lift the sheet upwardly until its lower margin clears the retainer flange Il. As the to rotate upwardly, the displaced sheet |65'I isreleased and drops by gravity in front of the magazine, which has a depend- In the drawings, I is the platen carriage of a recording machine, of which 2 is the rotary platen roll having at its opposite ends knobs 3 by which it may be manually actuated. The platen roll is further equipped with the customary variable fi, by which the platen' may be adjusted independently of the line spacing and other driving means to enable accurate registry of predetermined lines or areas of the record sheets with the imprinting position, and a ratchet wheel e on the platen roll shaft forming part of a line spacing mechanism.

In usual commercial installations, such inachines are power driven and are` controlled by punched record cards, a punched tape or other legend 'determining device. rl`hey may, however, be manually operated, in which event the platen roll is acatuated through a line spacing mechanism as is common in typewriting machines. In either event, the platen roll'shaft carries a gear 6 rotating in unison with the platen roll, by whichvmotion is transmitted to the sheet feeding mechanism.

The frame of the present record machine attachment includes relatively spaced end plates 'idetachably mounted upon the platen carriage I and supporting therebetween an. upwardly and rearwardly inclined sheet magazine il comprising the back wall t' and side walls 9 together with a bottom I flxedly connected with each other and with the end plates l. At the front margin of the magazine bottom In is an upstanding flange or retainer lip I l. Acustably secured to the back wall 8' of the magazine are relatively spaced angle bars I2 adjustable toward and from each other within the limits of slots I3 to agree with the width of a packet of sheets I4 to be fed, which are positioned therebetween.

The magazine is provided with a false spring l5 urged back against which the supply pack It rests, and which pushes the supply pack of sheets forwardly against the upstanding retainer flange II as succeeding sheets are removed from the front thereof. The sheets'of the pack are loosely confined at the top of the magazine by a transverse rod II.

J ournaled in the' end plates 1 in parallel spaced relation winth'the platen roll 2 are rotary shafts I6 and I1, which are rotated in unison with the platen roll by a gear train, wherein the gear 6 ent guide portion 24 which is substantially aligned with the conventional' paper guide 25 of the platen carriage. At the same time, the pack of sheets within the magazine is urged forwardly against the limiting flange M by the spring pressed back against which the pack rests, thereby maintaining the foremost sheet of the pack in constant relation with the path of travel of the frictional ejector 2 0 23. i

Fig. 3 illustrates the ejector at the moment it is in engagement with therecord sheet to be dison the platen roll shaft intermeshes with an idler pinion I8 mounted on the end plate 1, which in turnengages a gear I8 on the shaft I6 to drive such shaft in the same direction of rotation as the platen roller. The gear I9 in turn drives a gearr 20 on the shaft .I1 to rotate the latter in reverse direction. Mounted on the shaft i I1 for to and tro axial adjustment into different, planes of rotation are ejector fingers Il, of which there maybe one or more. The ejector ngers 2| are secured in adjusted position on the shaft by thumb screws 22. The electors are providedwith rubber or other tenacious termlnls 2,3, and

charged.

ln Fig. l the parts are shown advanced slight.'

ly beyond the initial engaging position shown in Fig. 3, and the ejectorflnger 2l having lifted the foremost sheet of the pack over the flange Il has released the sheet Ill' which has then fallen vertically in front `of the magazine and the continuing guide 2d until arrested by a stop bar 26. The stop bar 2t extends across the machine and is supported at its opposite ends upon reciprocatory slides 21 located beneath the magazine or pack holder t and opposite the transverse shaft i6. The slides 2l are slotted at 2B through which extend supporting studs 29 upon which the slides are movable to and fro. Each slide 2l is formed with a hanger bracket 30 to which the opposite ends of the stop bar 2S are adjustably attached by lset screws 3B engageable through slots 32. lIfhe slides 21 and with them the stop bar 2t are spring retracted in a forward direction by tractile springs 33 attached at one end to studs 3d carried by the slides and at its opposite endto dependent portions of the magazine or pack holder 8. Interconnecting the reciprocatory slides 2l is a transverse shaft 35 which carries small friction rollers 36. At the forward limit Aof slidingl motion of the slides 21, the rollers l36 engage and cooperate with larger friction wheels 31 carried by the transverse shaft i6. The slides 21 and with them the stop bar 26 and friction rollers 36 are retracted in timed sequence with other operative motions by cams 38 on opposite ends of the transverse shaft I6, which at each rotation thereof engage projections 39 on the re- -ciprocatory slides 21 to retract the latter against the yielding resistance of the springs 33.

At the moment the ejected sheet Hl' is released by the ejector lingers 2| and allowed to drop, the reciprocatory slides 21 and the stop bar 26 are in retracted position, and the nose or projection 39 of the slides are riding upon the high segments of the cams 38. The released sheet It istherefore arrested by the engagement of its lower margin with the stop bar, and is illustrated in Fig. 4. At this moment, the preceding ejected sheet I4" has not yet been advanced sufficiently far about the platen roll to permit the sheet I4' to immediately follow. The upper end of the preceding ejected sheet is then behind the stop bar 26 in overlapping relation with the succeeding sheet. as also shown in Fig. 4. The high segment 'of the cam 38 is of'sumcient extent to so hold the stop bar 26 retracted until the trailing margin of the preceding sheet is advanced even with the stop bar and forwardedge of the succeeding sheet. The high segments of the cams 38 passing beyond the noses 39 of the slides 21 permit the latter to advance until the rollers 36 engage the ejected sheet and press it against the `friction wheels 31', as is illustrated in Fig. 5. At the same moment and by the same movement the stop bar 26 is advanced from under the lower margin of the ejected sheet. and the further rotation of the shaft i6 causes the sheet to be fed downwardly by the coaction of the rollers 36 and friction wheels 31 until the forward portion of the sheet is frictionally engaged between theffriction rollers 40 and the platen roll 2 by which advancement of the sheet is continued past the writing position at the front of the platen roll, indicated by the type bar 4|, as shown in Fig. 6. Temporarily the sheet will be under thecombined feeding inuence of the `rollers 36 andvfriction wheels 31` and the rollers 40 and platen roll 2,

as in Figs. 3 and 6. However, as the sheet is advanced the cams 38 completing their rotation again retract the slides 21 and return the stopA bar 26 into the path of the next descending ejected sheet, preparatory to repetition of the cycle of operation.

Beyond the platen roll the inscribed portions of the successive sheets are advanced upwardly through a chute 4l which comprises two interpivoted, relatively spaced, parallel plates 42 and 43, which are adjustably carried by an arm 44 journaled on the shaft I1. To insure proper di.

rection of the sheets into the chute and to maintain the advancement thereof until the trailing margin has passed into the chute, an additional friction roller 45 cooperates with the top of the platen roll, beyond the writing position, to exert final feeding influence upon the successive sheets In the event that longer lengths of record material are to be fed, the gear ratio of the driving train is changed, as shown-in Fig. 7, to enable more than one turn of the platen roll between the ejection of succeeding sheets. As there shown, the initial driving gear 6' upon' the platen roll shaft is of smaller diameter and is inversely proportionate to the length of the sheets to be fed. Consequently, the shafts I6 and l1 are rotated at reduced speed and the ejector finger is caused to engage once with each sheet of increased length and the rollers 36 and Wheels 31 are delayed in their impinging action upon the advanced sheet until the preceding sheet has been advanced even therewith.

The sequence of operation includes the ejection of the sheets one by one. from the magazine by lifting the foremost sheet upward over the detent flange Il by frictional engagement of the ejector arm.2|, the rotation of which is timed in relation with the subsequent feeding devices proportionate to the length of the sheet. The sheet is deposited substantially upright upon the stop bar 26. There are two sets of sheet feeding devices, to wit, the internn'ttentlyv operable friction rollers 36 and wheels 31, and the more or less continuously operative friction rollers- 40 which cooperate with the platen roller 2 to advance the record material as the writing-of each line of matter is completed. The successive sheets are advanced in close succession, so that the leading edge of one sheet follows closely the trailing edge of the preceding sheet. The automatic withdrawal of the stop bar 26 in timed sequence with the operation of the feeding devices serves to time the advancement of each sheet in close relation. The stop bar is retracted into the path of the ejected sheet preparatory to temporarily arresting such sheet before the trailing edge of the preceding sheet has been advanced past such point. When the trailing edge of the sheet beingfed about the platen reaches the plane of the stop bar 26, the latter is withdrawn to release the arrested succeeding sheet. Simultaneously therewith the intermittent preliminary frictional feeding members 36-31 engage the released strip to advance it into engaging relation with platen engaging frictional rollers 40. Continued advancement of the sheet is maintained as'each Written line is completed, by the frictional rollers`40 and finally by the rollers 45 until the sheetis advanced beyond the platen roll into the chute 4| or into a suitable receiving compartment.

In order that the sheets may be accurately aligned transversely with the writing position.-

flaring guides 46 are adjustably mounted on the guide or apron 24 below the magazine. The released sheet drops in front of the guide or apron 24 between the flaring guides 46 by which it is deflected laterally in one direction or the other as may be necessary to present it in properly aligned relation. In initially adjusting the device for feeding particular printed forms, the customary variable is employed to vadjust the platen roll independently of the feeding mechanism to bring the writing lines or spaces into accurate registry with the writing or imprinting position. Then the stop bar 26 is vertically adjusted by loosening the .set screws 3l to present the bottom edge of the succeeding sheet in proper'relation with the trailing edge of the. preceding edge at the moment that the stop bar26 is withdrawn to release the sheet. After being once set in agreement with particular printed forms to be' fed by adjusting the platen roll variable and the stop bar, the sequence of operation and timing of succeeding sheets is maintained automatically until ,transfer material. tional feeding means is illustrated for ejecting x otherforms having differently positioned writing lines are to be employed, which then necessitates readjustment.

Where herein the term sheet is employed to identify succeeding record receiving units to be fed, it is to be understood that'there is contemplated not only the advancement of single sheets, but also record units which comprise plural sheets which may be interconnected in .sets or books, with or without interleaved carbon or Furthermore, while only fric'- and subsequently advancing the succeeding record units, it is to be understood that positive pintype feeding means,l of which sundry forms are well known in this art, may be utilized inilieu vof frictional means.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and ar- '..rangementof parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to complywith the statute, the invention has been describedin language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specic features shown, but that the means and construction herein `disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims. A

Having thus described my invention, claim: 1. In a writing or imprinting machine having a platen roll about which record material is advanced past an impression receiving position, a sheet feeding mechanism therefor including a magazine for a` packet of separate sheets, a stop against which the packet of sheets is pressed to position, Veach succeeding sheet of the pack in a common plane as the preceding sheet is ejected therefrom, a frictional sheet ejector operative to elevate the foremost sheet of the packet out of engaged relation within the magazine and thereafter release the sheet for descent in a substantially upright position, a sheet detent in the path of the descending sheet for temporarily arresting the descent thereof, frictional rollers intermittently operable to engage the arrested sheet, means for withdrawing the sheet detent and effecting engagement of the sheet by the frictional rollers to advance the sheet into co operative relation with the platen roll, feeding means for advancingjthe sheet about the platen roll, and motion transmitting means actuated vby ejected one by one, a frictional ejector engageable with the foremost record unit of the packet and operative .to initially elevate the engaged unit relative to the packet and subsequently release the ejected unit for descent in a substantially upright position, record unit detent device and feeding means and a record unit feeding device alternately engageable with the record unit and motion transmitting means actuated by rotation of the platen for operating the ejector to release a record unit from the magazine and present the detent in the path of the released recordv unit andv thereafter withdraw the detent and engage the arrested unit by' the feeding device to present the record unit in operative relation with the platen roll in timed sequence with the rotation thereof.

5. In a writing or imprinting machine,where in record material is advanced about a platen rotation of the platen roll for operating the ejector, withdrawing the sheet detent, operatively engaging the friction rollers in timed sequence with the advancementof a preceding sheet'about the platen roll.

2. In a writing or imprinting machine, wherein i record material is progressively advanced about a platen roll past an impression receiving posi-4 tion, a magazine for a packet of separate record material sheets, a pair of rotary shafts disposed in parallel spaced relation with `the platen roll `and with each other, one of said shafts being disposed adjacent to the record material magazine, a frictional ejector member carried by the latter shaft and intermittently .engageable with the foremost sheet in the magazine with an upward wiping movement by which the sheet is dislodged from the magazine and subsequently released for descent in substantially upright positiomfriction wheels carried by the other of said rotary shafts, a reciprocatory slide actuated by rotation of the latter shaft, a sheet detent and a frictional roller carried by the slide and alternately engageable with the descended sheet by reciprocation of the roll and past'an impression receiving position, a sheet feeding mechanism including a magazine to receive a packet of separate sheets, a stop against which the foremost sheet of the packet is pressed, pressure means for urgingthe packet .of sheets against said stop, a traveling ejector having frictional engagement in an upward direction with the foremost `sheet 'of the packet and operative to lift said sheet over the stop, and subsequently release the ejected'sheet for descent in substantially upright position, a detent operative in timed relation .with the ejector for temporarily' arresting the ejected sheet, a sheet feeding device for advancing .the sheet about the platen roll and means for timing the ejection of the sheet and the engagement of the sheet feeding device with the sheet in accordance with the rotation of the platen roll.

6. In a writing and imprinting machine,

' wherein record material is progressively adslide, a cam .on said shaft controlling the reciprocation of the slide and motion transmitting means actuated in timed relation with the rota.- tion of the platen roll for eecting alternation of said slide in timed sequence with the operation of the ejector and rotation of the platen roll.

3. In a writing or imprinting machine having a platen roll about which record material is advance'd past an impression receiving position, a

sheet feeding mechanism therefor including a magazine for supporting a packet of separate sheets in a substantially upright position, a. sheet ejector comprising arotary arm having wiping engagement with the foremost sheet of the packet in an upward direction to dislodge the fsheet for descent in a substantially upright position, a reciprocatory detent for arresting the descending sheet, detent retracting means and motion transmitting means for effecting rotation of the ejector'arm and retraction of the reciprocatory detent in timed sequence with the rotation of the platen roll. n

4'. In a writing or imprinting machine, wherein record material is progressively advanced about a platen roll and past an impression receiving position, a magazine for a packet of separate record receiving units from which said units| are vanced about a platen roll and past an impression receiving position, a magazine wherein a supply packet of separate sheets are received in a substantially upright position, tor having intermittent upwardly wiping engagement with succeeding foremostsheets of the supply packet to eject the engaged foremost sheet from the magazine and subsequently releasing the. sheet for descent in a'substantially upright relation into overlapping relation with a preceding ejected sheet, a detent for temporarily arresting the ejected sheet until the overlapped portion of the preceding sheet has been advanced therebeyond.

7. In .a writing or imprinting machine, whereinv record material is progressively advanced' about a platen roll and past an impression re- 'ceiving position, a sheet feeding mechanism including a magazine supporting a'packet of separate sheets in substantially upright position, a rotary .ejector having frlctional upwardly wiping contact with succeeding foremost sheets of the from the packet and adapted to release the sheet' packet whereby succeeding sheets are removed therefrom and operative to lift the foremost sheet from the packet substantially in the plane thereof and subsequently release the ejected sheet for descent in asubstantially vertical position, separate relatively spaced sheet detent and auxiliary sheet feedingV devices in advance spaced vrelation with vthe platen roll in .engaging relation with which the releasedvsheet is temporarily arrested, and actuating means therefor operative in timed relation with the. actuation of the platen roll operative'to disengage the detent and engage the auxiliary strip feeding device for advancing the sheet into operative relation with a traveling ejec' the lplaten roll and actuating means for the ejector operated by rotation of the platen roll.

8. In a writing or imprinting machine, wherein record material is progressively advanced about va platen roll and past an impression receiving vanced about a platen roll and past an impression receiving position, including a sheet feeding mechanism including an ejector for advancing a succession of sheets one by one from a supply packet thereof, a sheet detent movable into and out of engaging relation with the advanced sheet to temporarily arrest said sheet, a sheet feeding device movable into and out of engaging relation with the advanced sheet to further advance the sheet upon disengagement of the detent therefrom, and actuating means controlled y by rotation of the platen roll for alternating the sheet into feeding engagement with the platen roll, pressure means for urging the foremost sheet of the packet into the range of operation of the ejector, and actuating means for the ejector operated by rotation of the platen roll in timed sequence therewith.

9. In a writing or imprinting machine, wherein record material is progressively advanced about a platen roll and past an impression receiving position, an ejector for releasing a succession of sheets one by one'from a supply packet and depositing the sheets in substantially upright relation, a sheet detent member and a sheet feeding device interconnected for alternating engagement with a deposited sheet, to initially arrest the sheet and subsequently advance the sheet relative to the platen roll, and actuating means operated by rotation of the platen roll for alternating the engagement of the detent and feeding device with the deposited sheet in synchronism with the rotation of the platen roll.

l0. In a Writing or imprinting machine, wherein record material is progressively advanced about a platen roll and past an impression receiving position, an ejector for releasing a succession of sheets one by one from a supply packet and depositing the sheets in substantially uprightloverlapping relation, sheet feeding means for successively advancing the sheets about the platen roll, a detent for arresting each deposited sheet until the trailing edge of the pre- 'ceding sheet has been advanced at least even with the leading edge of the succeeding sheet,. and actuating means operated by rotation of the platen roll for disengaging the detent and releasing the arrested sheet in synchronism with the rotation thereof.

11. In a writing or imprinting machine, wherein record material is progressively ad- A vanced about a platen roll and past an impression receiving position, including a sheet feeding mechanism including an ejector for advancing a succession of sheets one by one from a supply packet thereof, a vibratory carrier, a sheet detent carried thereby and movable into and out of the path ofl ejected sheets to temporarily ar- 65 vibrating the carrier in timed relation with the rotation of the platen roll to disengage thel detent from the sheet and engage the feeding de-l,v vice therewith.

12.1n' a writing` or imprinting machine,

wherein record material is progressively ad-l engagement of the detent and the feeding device with the advanced sheet in synchronism with the rotationof the platen roll.

13. In a sheet feeding apparatus for or imprinting machine having a platen roll about which the sheets are successively advanced past a recordv receiving position, a pack holder in which a packet of sheets are supported in substantially upright position, an ejector automatically actuated in timed sequence with the rotation of the platen roll for imparting to the foremost sheet of the packet an upwardly lifting movement substantially in the plane of the sheet,

" the sheet being thereupon released for descent being advanced about the platen roll. and means for automatically disengaging the detent in timed sequence with the advancement of the preceding sheet tol permit the continued advancement of the temporarily arrested sheet into feeding relation with the platen roll.

14.. In a sheet feeding apparatus for a writing or imprinting machine having a platen roll about which the sheets are successively advanced past a record receiving position, 'a pack holder in which a packet of sheets are supported in substantially upright position, a rotary ejector arm having intermittent frictional wiping engagement in an upwardly direction'with the foremost sheet of the packet, by which the sheet is automatically initially lifted upwardly substantially in the plane of the sheet and subsequently yreleased for descent by gravity into overlapping relation with the trailing portion of a preceding released sheet being advanced about the platen roll, and timing means for automatically retarding the advancement of the released sheet until the overlapped trailing edge of the preceding sheet has advanced therebeyond and for re- .leasing the arrested sheet in timed sequence with the advancement of the preceding sheet for further advancement into feeding relation with the platen roll, and sheet feeding means engageable therewith for automatically advancing the sheet about the platen roll and past the record receiving position in timed sequence with the ejection of the sheet from the packet.

l5. In a sheet feeding apparatus for a writing machine having a platen roll about which the sheets are successively advancedpast a record receiving position, a reciprocatory slide movable into and out of the path of advancement of the sheet to temporarily arrest succeeding sheets, an auxiliary feeding device carried by the slide in spaced relation with the platen roll and movable into engaging relation with each advanced sheet j by retraction of the slide from engagement there- ,with to advance the previously arrested sheet into operative relation with the platen roll, and

actuating means for reciprocating the slide ina writing v with the foremost sheet of the supply packet and operative to initially lift the foremost sheet therefrom and release it for descent in a substantially upright position, a rotary shaft interposed in parallel spaced relation intermediate the platen roll and the aforementined ejector arm shaft, friction discs carriedby said intermediate shaft and rotating in unison with the platen roll aseaaoe and in the same direction, a reciprocatory slide member movable into and out of the path of descent of the released sheet and operative to arrest the sheet prior to its operative engagement with the platen roll, friction rollers carried by the slide and movable into and out of cooperative relation with the friction discs upon the intermediate shaft to operatively engage the advanced sheet therebetween, frictional feed rollers cooperative with the platen for advancing each succeeding sheet thereabout, a cam on the intermediate shaft controlling the to and fro movement of the slide to alternate the arresting engagement ofthe slide and feeding engagement of the friction rollers therewith, and drive means for actuating the respective shafts in unison with maar w. mmm 

